Improvement in mowing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

s. MOORE, or BELorr, wisconsin.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOwlNG-MACHINES.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No'. 36,850, dated November 4, 1862.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, S. M. MOORE, of Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of Visconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this speciiication, and `in which- Figure l represents a view in elevation of a mowing-machine embracing my improvement as seen from the divider side thereof, and Fig. 2 a plan Or'top view of the same.

My invention relates to that class ofmowing-machines in which the finger-beam is pivoted or Vhinged to the rear `end of the main frame and* behind the driving-wheel; and it consists in certain novel combinationsand arrangements of parts, hereinafter described, for

adapting the machine to the varying circum-` stances under which it is required to operate.

In the accompanying drawings, which represent a convenient arrangement of parts for carrying out the Objects of my invention, a stout main frame, A, is shown as surrounding, supported by, and oscillating freely upon a main wheel, B, which is also the `drivingwheel. A finger-beam, C, is connected to the rear ends of the projecting side pieces, b, of the frame by means of two long shoes or run? ners, E F, to which the beam is rigidly fastened. The toes of these shoes or runners are hinged or pivoted to the side pieces of the frame in such manner as to permit them to play freely up and down. I extend these shoes or runners (and also the divider-shoe G) much farther back behind the finger-beam than has heretofore been customary, and turn them up at the back nearly as much as in front. Alever, H, is rmly secured to the linger-beam between the two shoes E F, and extends forward over the main frame within easy reach of the driver, who occupies a seat, I, over the driving-wheel. The lever His providedwith a spring-detent, 71which takes into a series of holes in a curved rack, J, secured upon the frame, in order to hold the lever at any desired height. By this arrangement the driver can readily raise or lower the rear end of the frame.

As the frame rises the points of the guard-fin gers are elevated, and the angle of the lingers with the ground consequently and correspondingly increased, which causes the grass to slide more freely over the beam. When thus elevated the weight of thebeams rests upon the rear ends of the shoes, which enables the beam to pass more freely over stones and other obstructions and the machine to be backed with more facility than if shoes having short rear projections or heels were employed. Moreover with short shoes the drag of the bar would,v be increased, owing to the great angle with the ground it would necessarily present, and backing or turning would be almost impossible without previously lowering the finger-beam.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of myimproved mower, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. rlhe combination of the main frame, driving-wheel, drivers seat, nger-beam, dragshoes, and lifting-lever, when arranged for joint operation substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the iinger-beam with the shoes orrunners E, F, and G, having great rear projections,when arranged and operating as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

s. M. MOORE.

Witnesses:

IRA T. SHUE, N. O. PERKINS. 

